Our 1st Quarter 2025 Newsletter is here!

Hello Martin,

We look back on a memorable 2024 and kick off 2025 in style! Check out all the happenings and upcoming events as our pack of DAWGs continues to do our best to make the world a better place.

Another Big Year!

2024 CGD hosts. Anissa Faus, Hunter Murphy & Cappy

We capped off a memorable 2024 with another successful Colorado Gives Day, netting close to $80,000! The marathon day included heartwarming stories, interviews, testimonials, recipients, sponsors, donors and hockey celebrities. Among our guests were NHL legend Milan Hejduk, Avalanche forward Parker Kelly and Denver Pioneer netminder Matt Davis. We also spent time with families and friends of those that have been touched by DAWG Nation. Their memories and experiences are the life blood of our pack and are only possible with the support of all of you.

Thank you to everyone that continues to support our cause and allows us to make a difference in the lives of those that need it most.

Milan & the Dawg Father

DU's Matty Davis with Porter Johnson & Cappy

Colorado Avalanche forward Parker Kelly joined the Dawg Father this year.

Special thanks to Michael Shaw and Shaw Hockey Productions for once again stepping up and producing and delivering another day of top-notch video production!

Stand Up for DAWG Nation XV!

Make plans to join us on Wednesday, March 5th for our fifteenth annual “Stand-Up for DAWG Nation” comedy night. This one sells out every year and 2025 will be no exception. We have dual headliners with Chris Voth and Nancy Norton taking the stage. We'll have heartwarming videos, amazing auction items and, of course, a life changing check presentation that you won’t want to miss. Join us for the laughs, tears and cheers!

Click here for tickets!

DU Night is a BIG Success

DAWG Nation Night at DU was held on Friday, November 22nd when the Pios took on new rival Arizona State. Magness Arena was will filled with DAWGs young and old as we celebrated a tremendous partnership with the NCAA’s most storied hockey program.

The highlight of the evening came at the first intermission as former DU players went head to head in a shootout against USA Paralympians. What made it even more intriguing was goaltender Taylor Ludy. Taylor nearly lost his leg in a beer league game just six months earlier.

Ludy came to play and only let in one goal, a wicked wrister by Jerry DeVaul. Jerry is a double amputee US Army veteran that is now the president of Colorado Sled Hockey. Ludy stonewalled everyone else including Aaron MacKenzie, former defenseman for the DU Pioneers and Colorado Avalanche. Declan Farmer, the “Wayne Gretzky” of sled hockey, was also stymied by the remarkable Ludy.

The shootout culminated with a surprise check for $15,000 to Junior Pio coach Nick Fioretto. Nick is currently battling cancer and all proceeds from our 2025 DU Night went directly to Nick to offset some of the costs of his journey to recovery.

The Hockey Heals crew was on hand in full force and gathered for a group pic with David Dain leading the way!

Hunter Rings the Bell!

December 29th was a big day at the Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children as Hunter Murphy rang the bell to signify he is cancer free!! The lobby was filled with friends, family, teammates and a few Dawgs! Hunter came into our lives during the Dawg Bowl and has remained in our hearts ever since.

It’s been a roller coaster year for Hunter and his family as this remarkable young man was diagnosed with bone cancer in May. This easy to love kid became an integral part of our pack in June and continues to inspire us all.

Hunter’s journey has included coaching our Top Dawgs, taking the ice with his hockey heroes, winning a championship with the “Inclusive Dawgs”, enduring a surgery that removed most of the bone in his right leg, delivering witty trivia questions at Tee it Up for Dawg Nation, attending an Avalanche morning skate and much more. But better than all of that was ringing the bell today to show the world that he has won the battle of his life!

Way to go Hunter, can’t wait to see the next chapter!!!

Hunter had quite a cheering section including what folks were calling "the hockey boys". Denver University's Matty Davis, The Dawg Father and Daniel "Diamond Hands" Amesbury. Daniel, a member of ECHL's Kansas City Mavericks, flew in from Kansas City to be part of the special day adding, "I wouldn't miss it for the world!"

Hunter's Avs video

Ringing in the New Year, Chicago Style!

Nick Fioretto is a young man battling t-cell leukemia and recently became a Dawg Nation recipient. In our initial meeting with Nick we learned that he had grown up in Chicago and navigated a childhood filled with many challenges.

We shared with Nick that we had another recipient from the Chicago area. In December of 2022, Aaron Hodge was victim in a brutal attack as five assailants physically assaulted and robbed him. Aaron remained in coma for three days following the beating. Although Aaron is back on his feet and thriving, he still has lingering challenges from that terrifying night.

Now here’s the incredible “no coincidences” piece. Aaron is Dawg Nation’s only recipient we have ever had from the Chicago area and unbelievably he was teammates, roommates and best friends with Nick! Until we connected the dots, neither had any idea that other was a DN recipient.

After we shared this powerful and unlikely story, the NHL stepped up and treated us with tickets to the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field! Those tickets included slots for both Aaron and Nick as we were able to facilitate an emotional reunion of these two souls!

As usual, there were a few tricks up our sleeves, including time with the Spittin’ Chiclets crew, spending the day with long time NHL defenseman Jan Hejda, a visit from a former NHL referee Tim Peel, a gift package from the NHL, and a few more memories along the way

A huge thanks to the NHL, Elizabeth Hayward and Dan Edison for helping us pull this one off.

Here’s to making memories and lifting up those who need it most.

NHLers were in abundance as Tim Peel (NHL referee) and Jan Hejda (former NHL star) joined Nick and Aaron for lunch and stories.

Hockey Heals Hits the Pond

Special thanks to John Dolan for opening up his “pond of dreams” to the Hockey Heals crew. It was a spectacular day as we celebrated the countless remarkable stories that make up our Hockey Heals roster. Smiles were in abundance as the sounds of skates and pucks echoed through this peaceful valley in the Colorado Rockies.

Charlene Auten was behind the lens and did a fantastic job in capturing the essence of our memorable day.

A Christmas Wish

This past July, Drew Johnson (husband, father) had just summited Mt. Harvard when he slipped and fell over thirty feet. The fall fractured Drew's skull in several places, nearly severed his ear, cost him sight in his left eye, broke several ribs, and resulted in a traumatic brain injury. More than one miracle was required to save this beloved man's life, but that’s exactly what happened. After a six-plus hour ordeal, an unconscious Drew was airlifted off the mountain to begin a long and arduous road to recovery. Several months later, Drew has made amazing strides but still has a long way to go.

About a week before Christmas Drew’s remarkable wife, Aunalisa, reached out to Cappy inquiring about Avs tix for the 12/31 game against Winnipeg. When he shared the price Aunalisa said, “Wow, I didn’t realize how much they are, that’s not really in our budget.” So on Christmas morning Cappy traded his hockey gear for red hat and surprised this beautiful family tickets to the game!

There were a few tears, but lots of smiles and hugs. To us at DAWG Nation there is nothing better than putting a smile of the faces of those that need it most.

Here’s to more miracles in 2025.

It's a Family Affair

Every Wednesday morning we gather at the APEX Center for our Hockey Heals skate. The program began as a way to provide Van Stone, who suffered a TBI in 2018, with a safe environment to return to ice after a severe traumatic brain injury. From there it has evolved into a special family that is nonjudgmental, accepting, supportive and most importantly full of unconditional love.

That family continues to grow and a key part of that growth is the Auten clan! Truly a “goalie” family, the entire crew straps on the pillows and can often be found be found tending goal at our Hockey Heals skates.

Thank you Auten’s, you are Hockey Heals!

A Helping Paw

In Dawg Nation’s 15 years (our anniversary was January 1st), we have provided over $5.5M to families who need assistance. That’s $5,500,000! Wow, can’t do it without you!

Mason Soltis

Mason Soltis was diagnosed at the age of three with Doose syndrome, an uncommon type of epilepsy. Battling several seizures a day, he and his family stay resilient.

A Steamboat Springs tournament hosted by Howelsen Ice Arena and organized by Vladan Chase was a perfect demonstration of how a community can come together and support their own!

Jack Wilshek

Jack Wilshek has thrived despite the challenges that come with epilepsy. His goal is to utilize the funds to secure a life changing seizure response dog. Hats off to everyone that lent a hand in helping Jack and the countless souls that continue to step up to aid other families in need.

Thomas Smith

Thomas Smith is a 25-year-old referee, with a lovely wife and two young children. He recently took a slapshot to his face while refereeing an adult hockey game that resulted in a very scary scene. Thomas lost 5 teeth, damaged two others, suffered other injuries to his face and racked up a ton of hospital bills.

David Van Doren

David Van Doren is a teammate and friend to many and that was not more evident than in October when David was surprised by a room full of hockey players at the West Denver Hockey League (WDHL) awards night. David has recently beat cancer and it’s our goal to get him on his feet and hit the ground running!

Dylan Pagliasotti

Dylan Pagliasotti is a young man that has had his share of curveballs sent his way. Seven years ago he was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia that he continues to battle today. This past fall Dylan was involved in an accident that left him without use of his legs.

In January, Dylan’s teammates joined forces with DAWG Nation to create a special night to support their beloved teammate and friend. There were lots of folks that lent a hand and leading that list was Davis Wheeler. Beer pong, auction items, food, drink, stories, cheers. and even a few tears made this a night that Dylan will never forget.

Chris Kearns

Chris Kearns has had quite journey over the last few years. In 2015, he took on and won his battle with colon cancer, amazingly returning to the ice six weeks after surgery and chemotherapy.

Things looked very promising for Chris and his wife Alayna as they settled in Leadville, Colorado. Chris was quickly accepted into the mountain hockey scene. However, in the fall of 2024, Chris was stricken with a life-threatening spinal infection. Spinal surgery, a three week stay in the hospital and a long recovery time has put this young couple in a really tough spot. That’s where DAWG Nation comes in.

In February, we headed to Frisco, Colorado, to be part of the annual Logg Jam Pond Tournament hosted by Tyler Kellogg. Tyler is a special young man that organizes this annual event with proceeds going to DAWG Nation.

Paying it Forward

Duchene Scores! Duchene Donates!

On The Air

On February 12th, Marty joins coach David Carle to talk hockey and more. The show starts at 6pm at the Campus Lounge, 701 S. University Blvd. in Denver.